Delta, the cost of making a connection and not downloading any mail is so small (being in the region of 1k-2k) as to not register. I don't think this can be considered a cost as such. The same scenario applies with push technology though. Even though it's an 'always on' technology, data packets must still be sent for it to check whether there is mail to push. As such this 1k-2k cost is still incurred. Admittedly, it's less noticable as your always connected and so don't consciously connect/send data packets.

It does matter, because if mail is pushed, it only connects if I mail is received, while if you pull mail, you don't know if you received mail, and therefore wasted a small amount of GPRS costs...

But if Blackberry is really between $50-$100 per month, it will always be more expensive, I admit

Nope! Even when you use push, the server still transfers some data packets to query the server for new mail. Admittedly, as the connection is constant the small amounts of data packets that do the checking aren't noticable, but they are there. They get swallowed up by the fact that your connection is constant. When you have to physically connect each time, you notice that you're making a connection. They're the about same amounts of data as your pull connection makes (although the handshake connection packets don't happen every time).

This debate reminds me off the ferour that occured some years ago when Freeserve launched their FREE dial up internet accounts in the UK. Many ISP's predicted the death of the service as it couldnt' make enough money to recoup the revenue expended on network infrastructure for the huge user take up.
But Freeserve got it right and the technology costs reduced and the service became commonplace. Now all dial up is free and unlimited broadband for minimal fees rules.

I can see pull email going the same way. It will become old technology as the cost of push services comedown and becomes the standard. Pull email will become a thing of the past. This won't recind our liberty of choosing when to read or reply to our email but it will make live for IT admins like my self easier. I need push email to let me know of server problems in realtime and to provide top draw service to clients using email ticketing systems.

the only different between pull and push mail (from end-user view) is only few minutes delay before your email arrived at your phone.
tips.dennyhalim.com/2006/12/symbian-quick-easy-free-push-email.html

and if that few minutes delay is very important, the message should never delivered by email.

I like push email. I am far too lazy and preoccupied with life in general to go looking for email.
That to me is a bit like going to the post office to get my letters, I prefer them to come through my letterbox.

Mind you, I can understand the desire to have it optional, perhaps even to be able to block this feature overnight or during meetings.

I like push email. I am far too lazy and preoccupied with life in general to go looking for email.
That to me is a bit like going to the post office to get my letters, I prefer them to come through my letterbox.

Mind you, I can understand the desire to have it optional, perhaps even to be able to block this feature overnight or during meetings.

I also really like push email. I like to know that I have email even if I decide to check it later. I don't want to have to manually check to see if I have email at various times of the day and find out I don't have any.

On my phone, I am able to deactivate the push email. I do not use this feature as it takes too much effort toggle between online and offline mode. I also do not bother with the time of day controller as my sleep times may vary due to days off, personal activities or holidays.

There are certainly plenty of particulars like that to take into consideration. That may be a nice point to carry up. I offer the ideas above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up where crucial thing shall be working in sincere good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged round issues like that, however I am positive that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls really feel the impression of just a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.